Environmentally Robust Pivot Joint Adaptor

Abstract

An environmentally robust pivot joint adaptor for use in a pivoting pole assembly comprising a lower pole section and an upper pole section. The pivot joint adaptor includes a lower adaptor comprising a lower pivot member defining a first central wiring passage and an upper adaptor comprising an upper pivot member defining a second central wiring passage communicating with the first central wiring passage. The upper pivot member is rotationally coupled to the lower pivot member, and sharing a common axis of rotation. At least one of the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor comprises a pole adaptor mounted at an operative angle to the axis of rotation. The pole adaptor includes an open end for receiving an end of a pole section, and an internal wiring tube communicating with the first central wiring passage and the second central wiring passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An environmentally robust pivot joint adaptor for use in a pivoting pole assembly, the pivoting pole assembly comprising a lower pole section and an upper pole section, the pivot joint adaptor comprising:
 a lower adaptor comprising a lower pivot member defining a first central wiring passage;   an upper adaptor comprising an upper pivot member defining a second central wiring passage communicating with the first central wiring passage, the upper pivot member rotationally coupled to the lower pivot member, and sharing a common axis of rotation;   wherein at least one of the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor comprises a pole adaptor mounted at an operative angle to the axis of rotation, the pole adaptor comprising:
 an open end for receiving an end of a pole section, and 
 an internal wiring tube communicating with the first central wiring passage and the second central wiring passage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein, upon the open end receiving the end of the pole section, the internal wiring tube is configured to overlap the received end of the pole section forming a fluid tight connection to the pole section. 
     
     
         3 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein the open end communicates with a tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 3  wherein the internal wiring tube includes a first end that protrudes from the open end along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein the axis of rotation intersects the first wiring passage and the second wiring passage. 
     
     
         6 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein the axis of rotation is coaxial with the first wiring passage and the second wiring passage. 
     
     
         7 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor comprises a junction box module. 
     
     
         8 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor each comprise a pole adaptor mounted at an operative angle to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein each pole adaptor is substantially cylindrical and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the lower adaptor and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the upper adaptor are offset. 
     
     
         10 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein each pole adaptor is substantially cylindrical and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the lower adaptor and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the upper adaptor are coaxial. 
     
     
         11 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  further comprising an annular locking mechanism configured to selectably hold the upper pivot member immobile with respect to the lower pivot member, the annular locking mechanism comprising:
 one or more arcuate channels formed on at least one of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member, the channels radially offset from the axis of rotation; and 
 at least one guide member corresponding to each arcuate channel disposed on the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member, 
 wherein the one or more arcuate channels and the at least one corresponding guide member rotate with respect to one another such that the at least one guide member tracks along one of the one or more arcuate channels., and a range of relative rotation of the upper pivot member with respect to the lower pivot member is defined by the length of the channels. 
 
     
     
         12 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 11  wherein one or more of the at least one guide member comprises an elongate member engaged with the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member. 
     
     
         13 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 11  wherein one or more of the at least one guide member comprises an elongate member engaged with the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member. 
     
     
         14 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 13  wherein one or more of the at least one guide member comprises at least one of: i) a threaded bolt; ii) a pin; iii) a dowel; iv) a rod; and v) a protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The pivot joint adaptor of  claim 1  wherein the upper pivot member and the lower pivot member comprise interlocking flange plates.